UCLA Live’s world music offerings begin in Oct. 2006 and continue into March 2007. Among the highlights are three of Brazil’s foremost musicians. Not-to-be-missed is a rare U.S. performance by Gilberto Gil, music superstar and Brazilian Minister of Culture. Also on the season are Brazil’s sophisticated and sultry vocalist Marisa Monte, and guitarist Badi Assad in a double bill with Israeli singer/songwriter David Broza. Many events revel in music’s power to inspire hope, unity and enlightenment: the Fès Festival of World Sacred Music’s The Spirit of Fès: “Paths to Hope” is a famous event promoting peace; and the Gyuto Monks Tibetan Tantric Choir, whose chanting seeks to transcend earthly woes. The UCLA Live season also features two great cornerstones of world percussion—the Mombasa Party and The Royal Drummers of Burundi exuberantly mixing sacred drumming, vocals and dance; and Japan’s powerful KODO ensemble in a virtuosic and primal display of traditional drumming in their One Earth Tour 2007. Iran’s influential instrumentalist and composer Hossein Alizadeh performs with the multi-talented Hamavayan Ensemble; and L.A. favorite Lila Downs continues to lead a new wave of cross-border Latino music in a Royce Hall return concert showcasing her latest CD “La Cantina.” This is a series that not only stretches borders, but also expands the definition of excellence.